Speedboat captain avoids jail after girl, 15, crushed to death as family watched
The captain of a speedboat who hit a metal buoy which fatally injured a 15-year-old schoolgirl has avoided jail.
Emily Lewis and her family were among 12 people enjoying a 'sightseeing trip' on the high speed Rigid Inflatable Boat in 2020 when it smashed into a navigation buoy during choppy conditions.
Emily suffered a fatal blow to her chest and was rushed to hospital but her heartbroken family later made the decision to switch off her life support machine. Several other people suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, in the crash.
Today speedboat skipper Michael Lawrence, and company owner Michael Howley were given 18-week prison sentences suspended for two years at Winchester Crown Court in connection with the tragedy.
Winchester Crown Court had earlier been told the skipper of the rigid inflatable boat (Rib) allegedly "failed to pay attention" and collided with the buoy at 36.8 knots in Southampton Water at 10.11am in August 2020.
Missing radioactive capsule found after huge search - and it's the size of a pea
Speedboat driver Michael Lawrence outside Winchester Crown Court (PA)
A selfie taken by Lawrence on the day of the crash in August 2020 (PA)Last month Lawrence - nicknamed Mr Safe - was cleared of manslaughter but convicted of failing to maintain a proper lookout and a safe speed during the crash.
Christine Agnew KC, prosecuting, earlier told Winchester Crown Court Emily's parents, Simon and Nikki Lewis, had decided to take their daughters, Emily, 15, and Amy, 18, for the speedboat ride.
Speaking today Mrs Lewis said: "From the day of the accident my life has changed dramatically, I carry on but I do not live anymore.
"My family is what I got up every day for, my girls Emily and Amy are what I lived for. What you took away from me and my family has left us broken and unable to function.
"Emily was a fun, quiet, caring, young girl with a wicked sense of humour. We loved her so much but now our hearts are empty.
The moment just before the speedboat collided with the buoy (PA)"You have taken away from us not being able to watch Emily grow into a beautiful young lady, the amazing adult that she would have been.
"I go back to the day; all I can see is Emily's blue lips and her saying to me that she cannot breathe. I was not able to hold her and comfort her because of my other injuries.
"The paramedics took Emily and that is the last time I saw her until she was in a hospital bed, I remember screaming hearing Amy scream and this is when I knew we were going to have to turn off the life support machine off.
"I couldn't help her and this haunts me daily, I cannot get that image out of my head.
A RIB, the same type which crashed into the buoy at full speed (PA)"That is why I survive and not live, because of what you did to me and my family on that day.
Boy, 3, dies after being left in sweltering car in 34C heat 'throughout the day'
"It is two and a half years and you have kept us in this hell, you could have taken responsibility for what happened that day but you have chosen not to - to me you are just a coward only thinking about yourself.
"You show no remorse, you are a weak man.
"I will never forgive you for this."
Sister Amy added Emily was her best friend and "didn't think she could carry on" in the wake of her death.
She added: "The loneliness I have felt since she died hurts so much. We did everything together, I spent every hour I could with her.
The shattered remains of the RIB in August 2020 (Solent News & Photo Agency)"I got into drama school three months after the crash, my dream ever since I was little. The first person I called was Em, I waited for the phone to go through to voicemail wondering where she was.
"Then I remembered she was never going to answer and I was never going to be able to tell her."
During the trial Ms Agnew had said: "This was to be a high-thrills ride. Tragically it was both a high-thrills and ultimately an extremely dangerous ride, which ended with the death of Emily.
"She died from internal injuries she sustained by being crushed against the metal handle immediately in front of her, when the boat crashed head on into a metal buoy which Michael Lawrence appears not to have seen.
The moment immediately after the speedboat hit the buoy (PA)"Perhaps because he wasn't paying attention and was distracted, or because he was planning to take a sharp turn around it, and because he wasn't paying close enough attention, he miscalculated the turn.
"In either event the prosecution say that his actions that day fell far below those of a competent skipper."
As part of the ride, which took place in "perfect conditions", the Stormforce 950 rib crossed the wake of the Red Falcon ferry five times.
It then headed straight towards the North West Netley buoy, which measures 4.69m above the water line.
Ms Agnew said: "From the buoy coming into sight there were 14 seconds until impact. The Rib's speed was last recorded, before collision, at 36.6 knots."
In the wake of the accident Lawrence was heard calling Howley four times, telling him: "Hey mate, I have had an accident, it's a really bad one."
Michael Lawrence avoided jail time (Jonathan Buckmaster)
Michael Howley arriving at a previous court appearance (Solent News & Photo Agency)Sentencing, The Honourable Mr Justice Christopher Butcher described the case as "terrible and tragic".
He added: "Her life was cut very short... Emily was a funny, caring, quiet young girl with a strong sense of humour.
"It was an incident with profound and lasting consequences. It is still unknown why you drove the RIB as you did. I am sure the accident was not caused by your deliberate aiming at the buoy or deciding to go close and swerve away.
"Instead, what happened must have been the result of inattention or distraction.
"In the case of Lawrence, the fault was over a short period of time but caused tragic and most serious harm.
"In Howley, the fault was over a protracted period and risked harm to many."
Explaining his decision not to jail Lawrence, Judge Butcher said: "There is a real prospect of rehabilitation, Mr Lawrence can be said to have rehabilitated himself by abandoning his maritime practices.
"He has strong personal mitigation. Immediate custody would have an immediate impact on his family given he cares [for them]."
Lawrence and Howley must also complete 125 hours of unpaid work each and must pay £1,000 costs each.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
